The funeral of a former chairman and president of Kearsney Bowling Club will take place next week.

John Yarrow, 81, died on Sunday, April 30.

He was also a past chairman of Dover Choral Society and volunteer at the town’s St Mary’s Church, where he sang in the choir until recently.

A minute's silence was observed for him at a Choral Society concert the weekend after his death.

Mr Yarrow’s lifelong love of singing began on Easter Day 1945 when he joined the choir at St Andrew’s Church, Buckland.

He later transferred to St Mary’s Church, where he celebrated 70 years as a chorister on Easter Day 2015.

In his youth he was a bricklayer’s apprentice with Hayward and Paramor.

Mr Yarrow also served three years’ National Service with the Royal Engineers, spending a whole year on Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean.

He worked mostly in local government, with Dover Borough (later District) Council, the former Bridge Blean Rural District Council, and Kent County Council.

Mr Yarrow retired in 1992 from a management position with KCC, which saw him responsible for waste and refuse management across the whole of east Kent.

His son Stephen said: “He became clerk of works at St Mary’s Church, a voluntary position which he treated with the same professionalism he had previously brought to his working life.

"He earned plaudits from the church architect and the diocesan authorities for the way he managed affairs.

“He was responsible for the re-ordering of the Lady Chapel and the restoration of the eight bells of St Mary’s at the turn of the millennium.”

John Yarrow was a keen cricketer in his youth, captaining and running Minerva Cricket Club, as well as playing for Dover Cosmos and East Langdon.

In later years he joined Kearsney Bowling Club, becoming a leading light there for more than three decades.

He was president during its centenary year, 2006.

Mr Yarrow leaves a widow, Vera, whom he married on All Saints’ Day, November 1, 1958.

He also leaves four children, the others being Andrew, Debbie and Mark, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

His funeral will be at St Mary’s Church, Dover, at 11am next Wednesday.

All are welcome and mourners can donate to Pilgrims’ Hospices.